Inverness 0-2 Celtic

Celtic won a hard-fought three points at Inverness this afternoon despite spending the majority of the game looking for rhythm. Inverness looked strong at the back in the early stages and were as physical as Neil Lennon would expect them to be. Both goalkeepers had a single genuine attempt to deal with in the first half; Jonny Hayes forced Fraser Forster to dive low to his right to block a shot, while Anthony Stokes couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet to do better than lob his shot directly at Ryan Esson in the Inverness goal.

Beram Kayal was booked for a needless challenge 30 yards from the Inverness goal near the 30 minute mark but two minutes later Celtic created their best chance of the first half when Hooper, Forrest and Stokes all had attempts in a goalmouth scramble.

The biggest incident of the game occurred after 36 minutes when Greg Tansey was shown a straight red card by referee Stevie O’Reilly when he jumped and put a hand into Georgios Samaras’ face. Samaras clearly took a sore one but a yellow card would not have been an inappropriate decision. Ironically, just a few moments before Tansey’s ordering off, one of the assistant referees jumped to avoid getting involved in play, raising both hands and causing some confusion as his flag was inadvertently pushed into the air.

It took Celtic a long time to make the extra man pay but Ki fed James Forrest on 60 minutes, who played a one-two-three with Gary Hooper. Hooper drew Esson from his goal before squaring a pass to Stokes who knocked the ball into the empty net.

Celtic then created a flurry of chances. Forrest beat his man and fed Stokes on the left but the striker couldn’t find space to get a clean shot away. From the resulting corner Kayal released Stokes who tried to chip Esson instead of squaring for Hooper.

On 72 minutes Hooper fed Forrest, who beat his marker but his shot was blocked and spun into the air. Stokes allowed the ball to bounce before volleying into the bottom corner to secure the points for Celtic.

Despite being two goals and a man down Inverness continued to press Celtic. Foran fell in the Celtic box under pressure from Ledley. Shinnie made the most of an awkward ball by splitting Manstorovic and Ledley but could not get space for a shot.

Neil Lennon replaced El Kaddouri, who had been booked, with Paddy McCourt, which settled Celtic. McCourt allowed Celtic to hold the ball and acquire some composure.

Excellent result, very happy we’ve went to two places we consider dodgy in recent weeks and got wins.

We were awful until Ki came on but fair play to Neil, he saw it wasn’t working and he changed it at the right time; after that we looked far more dangerous and the first goal was wonderful! Stokesy is on fire at the moment! And credit where it’s due, I thought the defence was solid today particularly Wanyama; though its only fair to say well done Maj as well, I slaughter him enough so it would be churlish not to give the big baldy one credit

Thought the sending off was very harsh though if you put your hands up it can happen; and they cant really complain as Foran should have been red carded for that horror tackle he did on Maj, disgraceful. Always nice to get Terry Butcher annoyed.

Man/Men of the match – Every single soul who travelled to support Celtic at the park today and Victor Wanyama.

Canalamar – how effective is Gary Hooper?

The good guys won folks, the bad guys tasted bitterness and defeat.

Picky me would have to say that 2 other ICT players could have had a 2nd half early bath if the referee had been true. Samaras decision was clouded by the guy having a right good look at the guy he was going to paw…

Kojo – some days you get the bear (allow Anthony some slack – I ain’t sayin’ you’re wrong, but neither am I sayin’ you’re right)

The team and the support have done their job in difficult surroundings – God Bless ‘Em…

Players like young James who can create space for those forwards, with 2 men marking him at all times, that is a fantastic player to have in your team. Young Aiden was the same until he was kicked lumps out of, let’s hope James can get the protection he needs. In this country? doubt it.

Hateley looked physically pained to involve himself with and concur with WGS – Gordon Strachan played a blinder today. Because over and above the 10 man thing we scored through good football.

That and Wanyama – what a find. Rightly picked out in the studio for some focus.

Burley is a muppet – and it strikes me that we must have locked his wife up in an airless cupboard that day for him to have such anti Celtic feelings – unless there was another reason? We paid this man’s wages. Shameful.

A much better second half from the hoops Stokesie is certainly doing the business for us.I give him my man of the match for his 2 goals.We have certainly signed a cracker in big Victor and he is going to get even better.However,Lennie has to get our slow start sorted out as against a better team it will cost us dear.H.H.

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